Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) calls signals at the line against the Denver Broncos during the second quarter of an NFL football game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, in Denver.

Photo: Brett Coomer, Staff photographer

The transformation of the Texans from a last-place, winless team during an 0-3 start into a first-place outfit on a six-game winning streak has been dramatic.

Among our five takeaways Monday following the Texans' 19-17 road victory over the Denver Broncos, here's a look at how the AFC South leaders engineered a dramatic turnaround.

Winning streak

Texans coach Bill O'Brien is fast to acknowledge that there's a thin line between winning and losing.

During the winless start, the Texans' pass protection was substandard, they committed far too many turnovers and they were awful in the red zone. They were vulnerable in pass coverage, didn't generate enough of a pass rush and didn't play cohesive football.

That has changed, though.

"Give the coaching staff and the players a lot of credit," O'Brien said Monday. "There were things we were doing earlier in the year that we either needed to change or stop doing. Whether it was ball security on offense or getting more takeaways on defense or using a player in a different way or changing a scheme, really thinking about the ormula for how we want to win these games. Give the coaching staff a lot of credit and the players the most credit because they've tried to do what we've asked them to do."

Deshaun Watson improved

The Texans' second-year quarterback has improved over the past three games with eight touchdown passes and zero interceptions.

Watson is making better decisions and taking less risks with the football, and his body.

"As a coach,you try to emphasize it, show it on film, 'This is how they're taking the ball away and these are the things you have to do to hold onto the ball,'" Bill O'Brien said. "In the Buffalo game, there was really a lack of ball security and Buffalo did a great job of taking the ball away from us.

"I think we learned from our experiences. We have to keep that going. As you get into these games in November and December, that's going to be a key stat. Hopefully, we can keep that going."

Bye week planning

The Texans will devote a lot of their bye week to planning ahead.

They'll make preparations for a Nov. 18 road game at Washington.

They'll also do some self-scouting.

"That's big," Bill O'Brien said. "We have to do a good job over the next few days of looking at ourselves, our schemes, how we're using different players in relation to our opponents starting with Washington. Here come the Redskins, here's what they're doing. That's going to be a big effort."

Houston Texans wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (87) is brought down by Denver Broncos linebacker Shaquil Barrett (48) and strong safety Will Parks (34) on a first down reception during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Broncos Stadium at Mile High on Sunday, Nov. 4, 2018, in Denver.

Photo: Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

Getting Demaryius Thomas up to speed

It's been a blur for new Texans wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.

Since being traded from the Denver Broncos last week, Thomas has had to absorb as much as he can about a new playbook.

He caught three passes for 61 yards during a win over his old team Sunday.

He also made a few mistakes due to a lack of deep knowledge about the offense.

Thomas will spend the bye week moving more things to Houston and studying the playbook.

"That's going to be big," Bill O'Brien said. "There is some carryover from earlier in this career, whether it's formation or the way we call a route he's heard it before. It's just about repetition. He's had a big transition here.

"He's obviously going to have to make the move to Houston. While he's here, we're trying to coach him up and take a step back into what we can the basic formations, teach our routes, formations, protections, technique. He's a really good pro. He's going to do a great job of learning."

Heading into the Denver game, Thomas was given a limited amount of information to not overwhelm him.

"You had to go right to the game plan," O'Brien said. "To say, here's this thick playbook, that wouldn't be very good coaching. We can get back to the basics now."

J.J. Watt in midst of impressive comeback

Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt is in the middle of a resurgent season that has him in line for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Limited to eight games and 1 1/2 sacks the previous two seasons, Watt has regained his old NFL Defensive Player of the Year form.

Watt leads the Texans with nine sacks.

"If you start with J.J. Watt, i've never seen anything like it," Bill O'Brien said. "To come back from what he's come back from some really serious injuries and to play at the level he's playing, it says all you need to know about him and how much he cares about the team and how much he wants to help this organization win."

Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson is also playing at a high level after tearing his ACL as a rookie.

"He put in so much time, just like J.J. in the rehab, working hard to get to where he could help this team win," O'Brien said. "That's their mindset. You got a bunch of guys who really care about the team."

D'Onta Foreman still sidelined

Texans coach Bill O'Brien was noncommittal on whether the team will start the 21-day window and have running back D'Onta Foreman start practicing following a bye.

Foreman remains on the physically unable to perform list. He has been working out on the side at practices with trainers.

The former University of Texas All-American and Texas City native tore his Achilles as a rookie last year against the Arizona Cardinals.

"I don't know," O'Brien said. "We're still talking about that. I know he's trending upwards. He's worked very hard. I don't know if it's something we're going to do right now. I'm not sure about that right now."

Aaron Wilson is a Texans beat writer for the Houston Chronicle, joining the paper in August 2015. He was a Baltimore Ravens beat writer from 2001 to 2015, working for The Baltimore Sun, including coverage of Super Bowl XLVII, the Ray Rice domestic violence case and the careers of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Jonathan Ogden, and previously covered the team for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.

This marks the second time the Washington, D.C. native has covered the AFC South, previously covering the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars.